Angel of the Cove

by Sandra Robbins

  Granny’s suggestion stirred a resolve in Anna. After all, she’d come to the Cove to learn from Granny, and that’s what she was going to do. No more thinking about Simon Martin. She had more important matters to address.

  Anna smiled up at her. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”

  Two weeks later Anna sat under the tree behind Granny’s house as the sun climbed higher in the morning sky. The sunrise had been one of the most beautiful she’d ever experienced, and she’d enjoyed it from the safety of Granny’s yard.

  She’d thought her family had risen early on the farm, but the Cove residents came to life the minute the new day crept over the top of the mountains. Granny’s house was no exception.

  Anna felt as if she’d already put in a day’s work. The peas she’d picked right after breakfast had to be shelled, and she had volunteered for the task. The time alone gave her some undisturbed moments to think, and her mind wandered, her fingers moving in the rhythm she’d learned years ago as a child.

  At times like this she was surprised at how her thoughts always returned to Simon. He hadn’t visited since the day they raced through the field. Every time she thought of that afternoon she felt a prick in her heart. She sighed and threw a fistful of hulls to the ground. If she was lonely, there was nothing to be done about it now.

  The rattle of a wagon on the bumpy road in front of the house caught her attention, and she paused in her task. Anticipation swept over her. Could it be Simon coming? She sat back in the chair and shook her head. He always rode his horse. It was probably one of the farmers.

  “Anna,” Granny’s voice called from the back door. “Come on in, child. Andrew Long’s here. We gotta go and tend to Gracie. She’s a-needin’ us right away.”

  Anna jumped up and grabbed the pan. “Coming, Granny.”

  She ran toward the house, apprehension mingled with excitement filling her at the thought of another baby. Within minutes she and Granny climbed into the wagon and began the two-mile journey to Andrew and Gracie’s farm.

  Andrew looped the reins around his shaking hands and urged the horses forward. “Gracie never told me she was a-havin’ pains when we got up this mornin’. I would’ve come for you ’fore now, but she waited ’til I got through milkin’ and tendin’ the livestock to tell me.”

  Granny reached over and patted his arm. “Now don’t you fret none, Andrew. We gonna be in plenty of time. First babies take a long time gittin’ here.”

  Andrew looked up at the sun. “I shore did hate to leave her alone, but I knowed I had to git you. What if somethin’ happens whilst I’m gone?”

  Granny smiled. “Now, now, don’t go a-lookin’ for trouble where there ain’t none. We gonna have a long wait ’fore that child comes into the world.”

  Andrew shook his head. “I don’t know. I jest cain’t git the look on her face outta my mind.” He turned to Granny, and Anna could see fear in his eyes. “She was skeered, Granny, and I didn’t know what to do.”

  Anna leaned around Granny. “You did the right thing, Mr. Long. You knew your wife needed help, and you rushed to get it. Even though she’s in pain right now, her heart is happy because she has a husband who wants to take care of her and his child.”

  For the first time Andrew smiled. “Yep. I reckon you’re right.”

  Granny patted his arm again. “Now you just make these horses git us there as quick as you can, Andrew.”

  He popped the reins across the horses’ backs, and the wagon surged forward. “We’s on our way, Granny.”

  An hour after their arrival at the Long farm, Anna didn’t think she’d ever been so hot. Even with the window open, the stifling air hung like a heavy blanket over the bedroom. Anna sat by Gracie Long and fanned the perspiring woman. Gracie bit down on her lip, and her body strained with another painful contraction. Anna could only imagine Gracie’s suffering, but not a sound escaped the young woman’s lips. With the calculation of the time Andrew said the pains began, Gracie had now been in labor for nearly twelve hours.

  “Anna.” Granny’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

  Anna jumped up. “Yes, Granny.”

  “I think we need to dose Gracie with some raspberry tea.” She motioned toward one of the baskets she’d brought. “Can you make some for her?”

  Anna leaned over and mopped Gracie’s forehead. “Gracie, I’m going to make you some tea. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Gracie reached out and grabbed her hand. “Thank you, Miss Anna.”

  Anna wrapped her fingers around Gracie’s and caressed them. “I’m just Anna, Gracie. After this baby gets here and you feel better, I know we’re going to be great friends.”

  “I reckon we…” Gracie’s voice trailed off with the onset of another contraction.

  Anna turned and hurried from the room. When she stepped into the kitchen, Andrew jumped up from the table where he sat. Tired eyes stared out of his haggard face.

  “Is the baby here yet?”

  Anna shook her head. “No. Granny wants me to make Gracie some raspberry tea.”

  He eyes widened, and he glanced at the closed door behind Anna. “Is she hungry?”

  Anna repressed a smile and stepped to the stove. “No. Raspberry tea will relax the muscles and make them work more efficiently. Maybe this will speed up the birth of your child.”

  Andrew raked his hand through his hair and paced back and forth across the floor. “I never thought about it bein’ this hard on Gracie.” Andrew stopped and faced Anna. “She shouldn’t have waited so long to tell me. I’d’ve been to get Granny sooner had I knowed.”

  Anna opened the container holding Granny’s tea leaves and dropped some in a pot. “You did fine, but Granny told her not to wait so long the next time.”

  Andrew shoved his hands in his pockets and began to pace again. “No need to worry about that. I reckon we won’t be havin’ no more young’uns after this.”

  Anna poured water from the kettle over the leaves. “That’s what you say now, but after a while you’ll want another.”

  Andrew shook his head. “No, ma’am. This gonna be it.”

  “We’ll see.” Anna filled a cup with the tea, picked it up, and headed back to the bedroom.

  As she opened the door, Granny looked up from bending over Gracie. “Thank you, Anna. Now help me set ’er up so’s she can drink.”

  Together they propped Gracie up and held her until she drained the cup. Exhausted, Gracie lay back on the bed.

  Granny rubbed her arm and smiled down at her. “It’s not gonna be long now, Gracie. You been a mighty brave girl, and the Lord’s ’bout to reward you with your own little baby. Jest he’p me out a little more, and it’ll be all over.”

  Gracie smiled, her lips trembling. “I’m makin’ it fine, Granny.”

  Anna began to fan Gracie again. “I’ve never seen anybody braver, Gracie. Now just relax, and let’s get this baby into the world.”

  For the next hour Anna continued to apply cool cloths to Gracie’s head and wave the fan in front of her face. With the onset of each contraction Gracie bit her lip, but she couldn’t hold back the soft moan that rumbled in her throat.

  Suddenly Gracie’s eyes grew wide, and her mouth gaped open. Her body convulsed, and she grabbed Anna’s hand and squeezed it tight. “Hold onto me, Gracie. I’m right here with you.”

  For the first time fear flashed in Gracie’s eyes. “Wh-what happened?”

  Anna glanced toward the foot of the bed at Granny. Her eyebrows were pulled down over her nose in a frown, and she motioned for Anna to join her. Anna eased her hand out of Gracie’s grasp. “I’ll be right back.” She moved toward Granny and stopped next to her. “What is it?”

  “She’s tearing. It happens a lot, especially with first babies.”

  Anna scooted closer to Granny. “What are you going to do?”

  “Nothing yet. That’ll come later, but I wanted you to see what happens.”

  Within minutes the baby’s head emerged
and then the body. As she had done with the Ferguson baby, Anna helped Granny cut the cord and placed the baby in Gracie’s arms. Then she again joined Granny, who had picked up the basket she brought from home. She pulled out a jar filled with leaves and handed it to Anna.

  “Now, I’ve got some things to do here to take care of Gracie. While I’m finishing up, I want you to take these leaves into the kitchen and steep them in some boilin’ water. They’s wild comfrey leaves, and I need ’em made into a tea.”

  Anna nodded. “Is this for Gracie to drink?”

  Granny shook her head. “No, child. We’s gonna use it on that tear Gracie had. After Gracie’s cleaned up, I’m gonna soak a cloth in that comfrey tea and put it on the tear, sorta like I would a poultice. Then she’s gonna have to sit in a pan of that tea a few times every day to start the healin’.”

  “Is that all you’ll do?”

  Granny shook her head. “I’m also gonna tie her legs together so she won’t move around and reopen that place while it’s healing. It’s mighty uncomfortable for a woman, but that and comfrey tea is the only thing I got to help her. Now run along and get that tea a-seepin.”

  “Do you want Mr. Long to come in yet?”

  “Not yet. Tell him to give me a few more minutes.”

  Anna hurried to do as Granny said. As expected, Andrew jumped up from sitting at the kitchen table. “Is the baby here? Can I go in?”

  Anna smiled and shook her head. “Not yet, Mr. Long. Give Granny a few more minutes, then I’ll come get you. In the meantime, you can be happy that you have a healthy baby boy.”

  Andrew dropped down in the chair, his eyes wide. “A boy? How’s Gracie?”

  “She’s fine, but I have to make some wild comfrey tea. I’m afraid she’s going to have some healing to do.”

  “Just tell me what to do, and it’ll git done.”

  “Granny will explain it to you before she leaves.” Anna turned to the stove and dipped some water into a pan from the big pot they’d kept hot throughout the delivery. Ten minutes later she returned to the bedroom with a pan of comfrey tea. Granny dipped a cloth in the mixture and applied it to Gracie’s wound. She glanced up at Gracie and smiled. “There now, Gracie,” she crooned. “This is gonna soothe you some, but I’m afraid you ain’t gonna like it when I have to tie your legs together. I want you to know it’s for your own good.”

  Gracie opened her eyes and hugged her son tighter. “I know, Granny. I been a-hearin’ the other women talkin’ ’bout having to do it. I reckon if they can, I can too.”

  “You sure right about that. You’re as brave as any woman I ever helped birth a baby, and I’m right proud of the way you did it.”

  Anna let her gaze travel over Granny as she worked to make Gracie more comfortable. She thought of all the things about childbirth she’d learned since coming to the mountains. But most of all, she’d learned about the attitude a nurse should have when ministering to a patient. Granny did it with a calm composure that hid any agitation or uncertainty she might have. Her ability to keep the mother relaxed during the birthing process even when a problem occurred was something Anna hoped she could master in time to come. If she could be half the nurse Granny was, she would be happy.

  An hour later Anna opened the bedroom door again and stepped into the kitchen. Her heart plummeted to her stomach and she drew back in surprise. Simon sat at the table with Andrew.

  Before she could say anything, Andrew jumped up and ran toward her.

  “Can I go see Gracie and my boy now?”

  Anna tore her gaze away from Simon and smiled at Andrew. “Go on in.”

  The lines in Andrew’s tired face dissolved into a big smile. He grabbed Simon’s hand and pumped it up and down. “Thanks for coming.” With a whoop, Andrew disappeared into the bedroom. His voice drifted into the kitchen. “I been ’bout to go outta my mind, Gracie. You all right?”

  Granny stepped out of the room and smiled at the sight of Simon. “Well, if it ain’t the preacher come to see the new baby. Why don’t you give the family a few minutes ’fore you go in?” She glanced from Simon to Anna. “I think I’m gonna git me some fresh air.”

  She walked out the back door and left Anna and Simon alone in the kitchen. Simon turned away from her and sat back down at the table. The silence beat on Anna’s ear, piercing her heart.

  With hesitant steps Anna moved to the table and slipped into a chair next to Simon. “It’s good to see you. You haven’t been to Granny’s lately. We’ve missed you.”

  The muscle in his jaw twitched. He folded his hands on top of the table and stared at them. “I’ve been busy. I’ve had lots of visiting to do.”

  “Granny’s been wondering what happened. She said you’d never stayed away from her house for this long before.”

  He fidgeted in his chair. “I’ll make it up to her.”

  “How’s Martha doing?”

  “Fine.” His fingers rubbed at a spot on the table, but he didn’t look up.

  Anna frowned. “Simon, are you angry with me?”

  He shook his head. “What makes you think that?”

  “Because you haven’t been back to Granny’s since…since the day we raced. I’ve missed you.”

  Simon let out a long breath and stood up. He pulled his watch out and glanced at it. “I’ve just been trying to pay more attention to the rest of my congregation. I don’t want anyone to think I have favorites.”

  Anna blinked back the tears that were already threatening to fill her eyes. “Oh.”

  “In fact I have another visit to make before I go home. Tell Andrew and Gracie I’ll come back and visit later. I don’t want to disturb them now.”

  He picked up his hat and strode to the door, but Anna jumped up and ran after him. “Wait. Don’t go.”

  His hand reached out to open the door. “What is it, Anna?”

  She stopped beside him. “I’m going to cook supper for everyone in just a bit. Why don’t you stay?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

  She took a little step away from him. “Are you eating with someone else?”

  “No. I just need to get home.”

  Her chest tightened as if a heavy weight sat on it, and she struggled to keep from groaning with the hurt his cold attitude inflicted. “Then please stay. I’ve hardly gotten to speak to you at church, and we can catch up on what’s been going on with each other in the past two weeks.”

  “I’ve told you I can’t stay. Now I have to go.” His expressionless face gave no indication that the Simon she’d known lived within the man facing her.

  He reached for the door, but she grabbed his arm. He recoiled and shook free of her. Confused, Anna stared up at him. “Simon, what’s wrong?”

  His eyes bored into her. “I think it’s best if we stay away from each other.”

  She wiped at the tears that were starting to spill from her eyes. “You don’t want to be my friend anymore?”

  His lips trembled. “I can’t be your friend.”

  He jerked the door open and walked out, leaving her alone. An emptiness consumed her, and she covered her face with her hands. She didn’t think she’d ever hurt so much in her life.

  Simon mounted his horse and galloped away from the Long farm. He fought the urge to wheel his mount about and dash back to Anna—to tell her he wanted to be more than her friend—but he couldn’t. Since he’d met her, he’d yearned to share with her what Andrew and Gracie and John and Martha had, but that would never be.

  If she only knew how hard it had been for him to stay away from Granny’s these past few weeks. Seeing her at church had been agony for him, and today had even been worse. When she’d walked out of Gracie’s bedroom his heart nearly burst with joy, but he couldn’t let her know.

  Lost in thought, he raced down the familiar road through the late afternoon shadows. As the Simmons’ farm came into view an idea crossed his mind. Why not stop? They’d invited him to supper whenever he was passing, and toda
y was as good a day as any. Maybe spending some time with them would take his mind off Anna.

  The minute he tied his horse to the tree in the front yard of the farmhouse, the door opened and Linda Mae emerged on the porch. She waited on the top step as he walked toward her. “Ev’ning, Simon. You decide to take us up on our invite?” Her brown eyes flashed from underneath long lashes, and a bun at the back of her head held her long brown hair in place.

  There was no doubt about it, he thought. Linda Mae was an attractive woman. She was taller than Anna, and her complexion was darker than Anna’s creamy one. He shook his head to clear it. There was no need to compare Linda Mae to Anna. No one would ever measure up to Anna. But if Linda Mae’s manner toward him was any indication, she was definitely open to a friendship with him.

  A voice inside urged him to get on his horse and leave, but he ignored it. “I hope I’m not imposing on your mother stopping by like this.”

  She looped her arm through his and leaned against him for a moment before she drew him toward the door. “You’s always welcome at our table, Preacher. C’mon in and talk to Pa whilst I help Mama git supper on the table. I done made an apple pie this afternoon, and I’m jest dyin’ to show you what a good cook I am.” She squeezed his arm as she guided him inside.

  Suddenly his visit didn’t seem like such a good idea. He felt like a victim being pulled into a web, and Linda Mae was the spider dragging him with her. His stomach churned. What was he doing here?

  Chapter 11

  For the next few days after arriving home from the Long farm, Anna immersed herself in Granny’s teaching. She wrote so much in her journal she wondered if she was going to have to send to Gatlinburg for a new one. Every day Granny told her something new to add to her growing knowledge.

  Anna was happy to have her mind occupied so that she wouldn’t dwell on Simon and how much she missed him. In her heart, though, she understood his reasons for not visiting at Granny’s anymore. If he wanted more from her than friendship, perhaps it was best they stay away from each other. After all, she would see him at church on Sundays. That would have to be enough.